Improvement in horse-covers



A. H. MORRIS.

-Gavers.

Patented Jan- 14, 1873 Horse AM PHOTO-UTHOG/PAPHIC ca N.( JSBORIIEZS"PRacess'i UNITED STATES PATENT OFrIoE.

ALONZO H. MORRIS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-COVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,921, dated January14, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALONZO H. MORRIS, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an ImprovedHorse-Protector; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken inconnection with the drawing which accompanies and forms part of thisspecification, is a description of my invention sufiicient to enablethose skilled in the art to practice it. 1

In reference to the malady that has recently aifected horses, it hasbeen found of the utmost importance to protect the entire body of thehorse, so far as is possible, by means of blankets and other clothing;but although a horse-blanket fastened by a surcingle answers a goodpurpose, it oftentimes fails to afford all the protection desirable, andespecially when a horse is sick and measures are being taken to restorehim to health, adequate warmth being of vital necessity as an auxiliaryto any treatment of whatever nature it may be and however used. Hence,in giving a horse proper care, it is customary, to a greater or lessextent, to bandage the legs and thighs, and cover or protect the chestand belly. But as such appliances are not easily retained in place,their use is not well kept up, and the result is even worse than whenthey are not used at all, as it is not safe to intermit such treatment.

My invention relates to the construction of a horse-protector that shallcombine in one piece all that is necessary or desirable in guardin g thebody and preserving its warmth. For this purpose I make a jacket thatwill extend from the neck to the tail, over the back, loins, and sides,and under the belly, (with provision for fastening all along the edgesthat extend under the belly,) around the neck and over the breast, (withprovision for closing the opeuing at the breast,) and around the thighand upper portion of each leg, the provision for fastening being alsomade in each leg portion, the entire body, except the head and upperpart of the neck and the fore-leg or lower joint of each leg, being thusprotected by one garment, the various fastenings of which areinstrumental in confining the respective parts of the cover upon oragainst the particular organs or limbs which require protection. It isin such a protector that my invention consists.

The drawing represents a protector embodying the invention. 1

Figure 1, shows a horse covered with the protector. Fig. 2 is a view ofthe protector spread open.

To obtain the best form it is preferably made in two main pieces, a b,the seam c uniting said pieces being in the center of the back. At thefront part of the united pieces are two portions, d e, which extendaround the neck and shoulders, and cover the breast, the part d lappingthe part c, the lapping portion having button-holes f, into which fastenbuttons 9 0n the other portion 6. h i lo 1 denote four leg portions,each cut substantially as shown in Fig. 2, and each made so as to extendentirely around the thigh or upper part of the.

leg from the knee upward, being fastened in position (as seen in Fig. 1)by the buttons m and button-holes n, with which the respective oppositeedges of each leg-portion is furnished. p denotes the belly-piece, whichextends under the belly and is fastened to the opposite side piece a bythe buttons (1 and button-holes r. The harness may be readily appliedover the cover thus made, or the blanket may be used only for protectionof the horse in the stable. In either case, however, it derives itsvalue from its form and fastenin gs, which not only insure theprotection of all parts of the body, but secure the protector againstliability to slip when the horse is restive or is lying down.

Buckles and straps may be used instead of the buttons; but forsimplicity and cheapness I prefer the buttons.

I claim The protector cut and shaped substantially as shown anddescribed, the same being adapted for covering the body and limbs of theanimal.

ALONZO H. MORRIS.

Witnesses FRANCIS GOULD, M. W. FROTHINGHAM.

